In 1941, the North Carolina General Assembly passed legislation making dogwood the official state flower.
The small, usually white, flowers grow on dogwood trees. Dogwoods are common in eastern United States and are particularly prevalent in North Carolina. These medium-sized trees are often wider than tall and blossom from early spring to the beginning of summer. Dogwoods bloom year-round, flower in the spring, produce small red, berry-like buds in the summer, and exhibit colorful foliage in the fall. Though the spring blossoms are usually white, they can vary from lighter shades of pink to deeper red-ish hues.
In further celebration of the state flower, some municipalities around the state host annual “Dogwood Festivals.”